Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-12-31

the house excited his curiosity, and, without
moving from the bed, be cautiously opened
the door with his disengaged hand, and
looked into the main room. To his infinite
surprise it was dark and deserted B.t even
then a smoldering log on the hearth broke
and by the upspringing blaze he saw the
figure of Dick Bullen sitting by the dying
embers.
"Hello!"
Dick started, rose, and came somewhat un-
steadily toward him.
"Whars the boys" said the Old Man.
"Gone up the canyon on a little pasear
They're coming back for me in mint. I'm
waitin round for 'eul What are you starin
at, Old Man?" he added with a forced laugh
"do you think I'm drunkT'
The Old Man might have been pardoned the
supposition, for Dicks eyes were humid and
his face flushed. He loitered and lounged
back to the chimney, yawned, shook himself
buttoned up his coat and laughed. "Liquor
amt so plenty as that, Old Man. Now don't
you git up" he continued, as the Old Man
made movement to release his sleeve from
Johnny's hand. "Don't you mind manners
Sit jest where you be; I'm goin' in jiffy.
Thar, that's them now.n
There was low tap at the door. Dick
Bullen opened it quickly, nodded "Good
night to his host, and disappeared The
Old Man would have followed him but for
the hand that still unconseiousy grasped his
sleeve. He could have easily disengaged it,
it was small weak and emaciated But per-
maps because it iUdS small, weak and ema-
ciated he changed his mind, and. drawing
his chair closer TO the bed, rested his head
upon it. In this defenseless attitude the po-
tency of his earlier potations surprised him.
The room fiickered and faded before his eyes,
reappeared, faded again, went out, and left
him-asleep.
Meantime Dick Bullen, closing the door,
confronted his companions. "Are you
ready1" said Staples Ready" said Dick;
"what's the timer" past 49," was the
reply; "can you make it?-it's nigh on fifty
miles, the round trip hither and yon." 81
reckon" returned Dick, shortly. "Whar's
the nnara" "3iIl and Jaeits hollin' her at
the crossin'" "Let 'em hold On a mint
longer" said Dick.
He turned and re-entered the house softly.
By the light of the guttering candle and dy-
ing fire he saw that the door of the little
room was open. He stepped toward it on
tiptoe and looked in. The Old Man had
fallen back in his chair, snoring, his helpless
feet thrust out in line with his collapsed
shoulders, and his hat pulled down over his
eyes. Beside him, on narrow wooden bed
stead, lay Johnny, muffied tightly in
blanket that hid all save strip of forehead
and o few curls damp with perspiration.
Bullen made step forward, hesitated, and
glanced over his shoulder into the deserted
room. Everything was quiet. With sud-
den resolution he parted his huge mustaches
with both hands and stopped over the sleep
ing boy. But even as he did so mischievous
blast, lying in wait, swooped down the chin
ney, rekindled the hearth, and lit up the
room with a shameless glow from which Dick
fed in bashful terror
His companions were already waiting for
him at the crossing. Two of them were
struggling in the darkness with some strange
misshapen bulk, which as Dick came nearer
took the semblance of a great yellow
horse.
1t was the mare. She was not pretty
picture. From her Roman nose to her rising
launches, from her arched spine, hidden by
the stiff maehillas of a Mexican saddle, to
her thick, straight bony legs, there was not
a line of equine grace. In her half blind but
wholly vicious white eyes, in her protruding
under lip, in her monstrous color, there was
nothing but ugliness and vice.
"Now, then,' said Staples, "stand cpar of
her heels, boys, and up with you. Don't
miss your first holt of her mane and mind ye
get your off stirrup quick. Ready"
There was leap, a scrambling struggle
bound. wild retreat of the crowd, circle
of flying hoofs, two springless leaps that
Jared the earth, a rapid play and jingle of
spurs, a plunge, and then the voice of
Dick somewhere in the darkness, "All
right"
HDont take the lower road back onless
you're hard pushed for time! Don't hold her
in doeh hill Wen be at the ford at g.
G1angi -&Hoopal Mulal Co.'s
A splash, spark struck from the ledge In
the road, clatter in the rocky cut beyond,
and DICK was gone.
Sing, o Muse, the ride of Richard Bulleni
Sing, 0 Muse, of chivalrous men! the sacred
quest, the doughty deeds, the battery of low
churls, the fearsome ride and grewsome perils
OF the flower of Simpsons Bari Alackl she
Is dainty, this Muse! She will have none Of
this bucking brute and staggering, ragged
rider, and must fain follow him in prose,
afootl
1t was o'clock, and yet he had only gained
RattlesnalIe hill For in that time Jovita
had rehearsed to him all her imperfections
and practised all her vices Thrice had she
stumbled. Twice had she thrown up her
Roman nose in a straight line with the reins,
and, resisting bit and spur, struck out madly
across country Twice had she reared, and,
rearing, fallen backward and twice had the